My Rudbeckia hirtas have some blooms out. It's only one variety, a mutt I got in trading, but the other hirtas are not far behind. My Goldsturm Rudbeckia ?fulgida? have buds but they're a long way away. Last year was my first year to grow the hirtas and they were from seed. They didn't bloom until much later. The ones blooming now made it through winter, so i had attributed their early bloom to being a returning plant. Maybe I was wrong! I do know I didn't see any Ruds last year in June! My echinacea aren't ready to bloom, though.

My Little Princess Spirea is just now blooming and I thought i bloomed much earlier last year! I know we had an early spring last year and I guess that's why. I had planted it fall of the previous year so this is only its second year in the garden.

My WS annuals are doing poorly. They are so small. If the Ruds are early, why are my annuals so puny?! Too many confusing signals!